Welcome to my musings about my life, travels, crafts and friendships. I have a passion for everything that I become involved in and want to learn more about it. Turn your speakers up to hear some of my favorite relaxing music. Please feel free to leave comments as I would love to know about you too!
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Friday, October 23, 2009

Sheep and Wool Festival

An escape from my routine was welcome last weekend, and I ventured on a five hour drive to New York for the Sheep and Wool Festival. I had signed up several months ago for a spinning class, and have been looking forward to learning more and improving my abilities.

It was a good day for travel, and I arrived in Rhinebeck without any problems. I stayed at the Beekman Arms hotel, which was founded in 1766. I was thrilled to find a large antique market with 40 vendors next door. Nice village with lots of shops to explore.

The Inn has a wonderful history dating back to the opening of the original tavern in 1700. Although the price was high for my budget, I wanted to stay in the old building full of antiques. The Inn was built about the same time as our home, but more formal. Needless to say I was given a room in a separate building with little character. On a positive note it did have a beautiful four poster old bed that filled the room so much that I couldn't get a photo of it. And it was quiet and private compared to the main building. I had a decantur of brandy waiting for me and I partook a few sips as I unpacked.

Here are a few shots of the main building, which is rather dark just like our house! Every old fireplace needs a firearm above it in case of a raid or wild critter.

The library was comfortable, but I was just browsing through.

I loved this large corner cabinet. It had a lot of wear and you could tell it would have some wonderful stories if it could speak.

Being a strange person who likes to hook rugs I can envision patterns in everything. This is part of the pattern of the bedspread, and would make a nice design for a little table mat.

The next morning I headed to the festival grounds for my all day spinning class. The teacher had gotten the flu and cancelled all her classes! Luckily the people running the show were able to find someone who was able to teach the techniques for the classes, and was willing. The problem was that she was from Michigan! She drove all night (11 hours) to make it to our first class.

The area we were in was similar to a large garage, and was barely heated. And it was only 35 degrees outside! Spinning is done barefoot, or in your best hand knit socks. But on the cement floor it was cold! Our class was about spinning from the fold, and long draw spinning which is holding the fiber in one hand to spin. It was a good class, but we all had to use both hands quite frequently. I enjoyed the class and met some great women. I love looking at the different wheels and their wood and how they are made. We spun with sheep wool and mohair. Love, love, love mohair to spin with!!!

After class it was almost dark so I retired to my room and hooked on my rug all evening. The fairgrounds were only a mile from the hotel. The next day (Friday) was a free day as the festival wasn't starting until Saturday. I headed back to the fairgrounds to meet up with Linda R. as she was setting up her punchneedle supplies for her vending space. She and her better half had taken a class on making Shaker boxes. She made one, but he continued with his new skills and made a beautiful set of stacked oval boxes that he showed me. This is the smallest, barely 2" long but fully detailed. It was amazing. The tacks are actually pins as tacks would have been too large.

I later explored the antique shop by the hotel and found the prices to be extremely high. I checked out some other shops but a 'nor easter had come in and it was raw, pouring and windy. Back to my room!

Saturday dawned with sunshine but it was cold. I'll share pictures of the actual festival on another day.

I LOVE your blog Miz and I am now 'stalking' it. It is like reading a travel and history story, places I may never see or hear about. I always thought that spinning would be interesting to do, but I'm sticking to rug hooking . . . another hobby and my hubby kicks me out on my ear. Thanks for your blog on the 'Sheep and Wool Festival". Anxious to read more about it.

Giving Thanks all year...

I am thankful for health, for friendships, for God, for my better half, for enough money to pay the bills, for a comfortable home, for honesty, for my computer friendships, for our ever loyal pets, for a decent job, for a car that runs, for sheep, for the ability to create with my hands, a good nights sleep, for "good hair" days, for plenty of food on our table, for my Dad who I dearly miss, for my stepmother who loved him so much, and for books and the ability to read. I'm also thankful for warm clothes on cold days, for warm soil, for the ocean, for rainbows, for electricity, for wood for our woodstove, for flowers, for dropping gas prices, for free things, and for weekends, for being an American, for coffee fixed my way, for time to craft, for nights at home, for a closet full of clothes, for scented candles, for being appreciated at work, for birds and for my intelligence. I'm thankful for photographs, for the ability to write, for the power company that works in all weather, and for the ability to take a walk on a beautiful day. I'm thankful for the music in my life, and for living in the country where I see trees and deer and nature outside of every window. I'm thankful for hook-ins and Rug Art shows and the ability to travel to visit them. I'm thankful for handknit socks that keep my feet warm and for days when I don't have to go to work.